Why is the immersion of bones in water after death?Image Credit Source: Getty Images
Hindu asthi visarjan ritual: The traditions of funeral after death in India are not only associated with religious faith, but also have deep spiritual and cultural understanding. These traditions have an important karma. Bone immersion, that is, to flow the bones of the dead person into a holy river or water. This tradition has been going on for thousands of years, and there is also a classical basis behind it. Let us know what our religious texts say on this subject.
Importance of bone immersion
According to the scriptures, after death the body merges into the five elements – fire, water, air, earth and sky. The immersion of bones in water is considered part of the process of this five element merger. This action is not only important for the peace of the soul of the deceased, but it is also an emotional and spiritual process for the family.
What do scriptures say?
In many ancient Hindu scriptures and Puranas, the importance of bone immersion is described in detail.
Garuda Purana: This Purana is particularly focused on death and subsequent rites. According to the Garuda Purana, by flowing the bones into the holy river, the deceased attains salvation and his soul gets peace. It is believed that immersed bones in water reach the ancestral directly, which gives satisfaction to the ancestors.
Padma Purana: It has been told in the Padma Purana that by immersing bones in holy rivers like Ganga, a person is freed from all sins and he gets direct heaven. This activity is considered helpful in getting rid of the cycle of rebirth for the dead person.
Brahma Purana: In the Brahma Purana too, bone immersion has been described as a virtuous karma. According to this, it not only provides salvation to the soul of the deceased, but the family also gets blessings and happiness and peace.
Religious importance of bone immersion
According to Hindu scriptures, the human body is made up of five elements like fire, air, water, earth and sky. After death, when the body is cremated, it is returned to four elements by giving it to the fire. The last element is the medium of returning ‘water’ back to nature. It is mentioned in scriptures like Garuda Purana and Vishnu Purana that the soul gets peace by bone immersion and it is prepared for its next journey. Through this, the soul gets the path of movement towards ‘Pitriloka’. Also, the blessings of fathers are also received.
Importance of holy rivers
Rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Godavari and Brahmaputra are considered very sacred in Hinduism. It is believed that by doing bone immersion in these rivers, it is believed that the mortal soul attains salvation.
Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs. TV 9 India does not confirm this.